Container capping machine



SQP- 26, 1933- J. J. GAYNOR CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Original FiledJan. 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Sept 26, 1933 J. J. GAYNORCONTAINER GAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. .o m

Original Filed Jan.. 10, 1931 Sept 26 1933- J. J. GAYNoR l,928,4

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 10, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented sept. ze, 193s con'rsrnan @carpino MAonrNn John Ll. Gaynor,Delphi, llnd., assigner to Horix Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.,a rvcorporation'ci Pennsylvania Original application January 1i), 1931,Serial No. 507,890.l Divided and this application January 12, 1932.Serial No. 586,124

7 Claims.

i This invention relates totheriilling` and capping of containers, andmore particularly to mechanism for placing a cap on a container byautomatically actuated capping mechanism.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 507,890, filedJanuary l0, 1931.

One object of my invention is to provide in combination with a cappingdevice a conveyor for bringing containers, hereinafter referred to as`bottles, into position to be, capped, and timing means for controllingthe actuation of the capping device in accordance with movement of abottle on the conveying means.

A more specific object of'rmvy'invention is to provide in combinationwith a bottle iilling machine a capping device arranged tocap a bottlewhen the bottle-is brought beneath the same, said capping vdevice beingactuated by mechanism including a trip clutch which trips when a bottlemoves into position to be capped.

In order to 'illustrate these and other objects of my invention whichwill become apparent in the course of the ensuing description, I haveillustrated in the drawings one embodiment which my Vinvention mayassume.`

`lin the drawings which are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments shown, p

Fig. l is a View in elevation of a filling machine combined with cappingmechanism( arranged to cap a bottle as it passes from the lillingmachine; v f

Fig. `2.is a detail view with parts broken away to facilitateillustration of the capping, device and actuating mechanism therefor; i

Fig. 3 is a View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, taken at right anglesto Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; j

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Fig. 2; l. i

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the actuating cam and lever r`for thecapping mechanism, this view being taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail View on an enlarged scale of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. 2, butshowingu the capping kdevice in raisedposition;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views on an enlarged scale, showing the jawlmembers of the clutch in closed andopen positions respectively.

The lling machine which `is shown only fragmentarily in Fig. 1 mayv beof any Well known type. 1, the tank 9 below whichare arranged the nll-There is shown in` broken lines, in Fig.

ing heads 10. A hopper 11 is'adapted to discharge caps through a chute12 to be fed to the capping device. The hopper and chute are supportedon standards 13 braced by an upper cross member 14 and a lowerplatforml, forming a frame in which the tank is mounted for rotation. Arotating table 16 is mounted above the lower platform and is driven bysuitable actuating mechanism not shown. This table comprises a pluralityof stirrups r17 (see Fig. 5), each stirrup being elevated and lowered bysuitable elevating means 18. This elevating means may comprise a cam ortrack which controls the position of the stirrups 17 during rotation ofthe 70 pushed onto the stirrup 17 by the star wheel 22. 80

At the discharge pointof the lling machine is a stationary support 25 towhich is secured a guide ringer 26. This nger projects angularlyinwardly so as to deflect bottles from the stirrups 17 onto the support25. The yokes pass in succession over the finger 26. The following armof each yoke 24 cooperates with the linger 26 to move the bottle oi ofthe stirrups 17 onto the support 25. Since the details of the fillingmachine do not enter into the present invention, they have been omittedfrom the drawings and are not described in this specication.

The capping mechanism may be of the type adapted to apply a screw cap ifthe neck of the bottle is provided with screw threads. Where catsupbottles or the like are being filled, the capping device may be of thetype adapted to apply crown caps. Certain aspects of my invention arebroadly applicable to these and other types of cap applying devices, andit is to be understood that do not limit my invention tothe particulartype of cap, applying devices illustrated in the drawings. These capapplying devices, however, have a cap receivingV recess in which the capis disposed when it is applied to the bottle. The vcap applying deviceis then actuated so as to apply the cap to a bottle, and is againsupplied with a cap byhaving such cap placed in the cap receivingrecess.v This cycle is repeated as often as a bottle is presentedto becapped.

In the drawings, and more particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I have showna crown cap applying device including a spring pressed plunger disposedabove a die block as is customary in crown capping machines. The dieblock has a lateral opening 28 (see Fig. 4) through 'which caps enterthe cap receiving recess 29. In this form of capping device, the capreceiving recess is directly beneath the spring pressed plunger of thecapping device.

The chute 12 has a flexible vportion which is connected to a curvedportion 30 secured to the side of the capping device. The opening 28 isa lateral opening and, therefore, caps must .be deflected from theirpath down the chute in order to enter the cap receiving recess A29. TheweightV of the column of caps in the chute 12 is taken by an abutmentmember 32 at the lower end of the curved portion 30 of the chute; and atthis .time

the lowest cap in the chute is in line with the cap receiving recess 29.

I have provided mechanism, ydescribed and claimed in the parentapplication, for pushing this lowermost cap laterally from the chuteinto the cap receiving recess 29. This mechanism comprises a swingingarm 33 having at its lower end a head 34forengaging lthe cap. Thisswinging arm is pivoted at 35 toa bracket 36. Itsupper end is providedwith a crank 37 formed with an arcuate slot 38. A pin 39 which issupported by a 4bracket 40 extends into the slot 38. The bracket 40 iscarried by a vertical rod 41, slidably mounted in lugs 42 and 43. Acompression spring 45 extends between the lower lug 43 and the bracket40, thus tending to move the bracket 40 upwardly.

The rod 41 is yieldably pressed downwardly relative to the cappingdevice when a spring pressed plunger 47 engages the upper cross member14. The plunger 47 is slidable within a bore 48 in the rod 41 and ispressed upwardly by a spring 49. vWhen the cap within the capping devicehas been applied tothe bottle, the capping device rises, bringing thespring pressed plunger A47 into engagement with the cross member 14.This lowers the bracket40, swings the arm 33 inwardly, and causes thelowermost cap in the chute to be pushed by the head 34 into `the capreceiving recess 29.

As is apparent from Fig. l, the capping device is normally maintained inelevated position by a coiled spring 50 suspended by hook 5l from theupper cross member 14. The lower end of the spring 50 is attached to ajaw carrying member 53 of a trip clutch generally indicated by thenumeral 52. A pin 54 secures a rod 53 to the clutch member 53, the rod58 extending vertically along the axis of the clutch member 53. Athreaded sleeve 55 surrounds the rod 58 and is slidable relativethereto; but normally the sleeve 55 is positioned as shown in Figs. 1and 2 with lits lower end bearing against the upper end of the clutchmember 53. By rotating the threaded sleeve relative to the cappingdevice, vertical adjustment of the capping device is eifected; as theThis rod 57 is reciprocated at a regular rate; and

the trip clutch `is provided with the purpose of against which the cam68 bears.

causing the capping mechanism to reciprocate with the rod 57 when thisclutch is tripped. The lower end of the rod 57 is slidable in a bearing59. A block 60 provided with trunnions 61 is secured to the lowerportion of the rod 57 above the bearing 59. The trunnions 6l aredisposed in slots 62 in the two forks 63 on the end of a lever 64. rI`helever 64 has a pivoted mounting 65. A shaft 66 rotatably mounted inbearings 67 carries a cam 68 for actuating the lever 64. The lattercarries intermediate its ends a roller 69 A bevel gear 70 on lthe innerend of the shaft 66 meshes with gear n teeth 71 on the underside of therotating table 16.

It is apparent, therefore, that as the table 16 is rotated, the shaft 66drives the cam 68 so as to depress the block 60. The block 60 is securedto the rod 57 so that the latter is forced downwardly. Return movementof the rod 57 to its upper position is brought about by a suitablecounter-weight or by resilient means not shown.

The capping device is not rigidly connected to the clutch member 53 bythe rod 58; but instead, the sleeve 55 is slidable on the rod 58 andresilient means are provided for connecting the capping device to therod 58 so that instead of smashing Ya bottle, if an unusually tall oneis being capped, or if, for any reason, the cooperation of parts of myimproved mechanism of the capping device is imperfect, the connectionbetween the capping device and the rod 58 will yield. 'Ihis yieldableconnection comprises a compression spring bearing with its lower endagainst the upper end of the sleeve 55 and surrounding the upper portionof the rod 58. A nut 73 engages the upper end of the spring 75 and islocked in adjusted position by a lock nut 74.

Tripping of the clutch 52 is brought about through the inward movementof a pair of pivoted jaw members 76 mounted in slots in the sides of theclutch member 53. These slots extend clear through the clutch' member 53so that the jaw members may enter the bore 56 when swung inwardly. At 78(as indicated in Fig. 2) the rod 57 is provided with a peripheral groovehaving shoulders 79 and 80. The edges ofthe upper end of the rod 57 arebeveled as indicated at 83, so that the pivoted jaw members will bewedged apart to admit the upper end of the rod 57, should the latter beelevated while these jaw members are contracted. The jaw members 76 areurged inwardly by leaf springs 85 secured to the sides of the jawcarrying member 53. The jaw members 76 are each pivoted at one end tothe jaw carrying member 53 as indicated at 86 (see Fig. 3). A wedgemember 87 cooperates with the other ends of the jaw members to separatethe same except when the capping device is to be actuated. It isapparent, therefore, that so long as the wedge 87 is removed from theposition 4shown in Fig. 1 so that the leaf springs 85 may force the jawmembers 76 inwardly, these jaw members will engage in the groove 78 soas to clutch the member 53 and the capping device mounted thereon to therod 57. The reciprocations of the rod 57 are, therefore, transmitted tothe capping device and the spring 50 is elongated each time the cappingdevice is pulled downwardly. This spring 50 accordingly acts to returnthe capping device to its upper position. A dash pot 88 acts to cushionthe return movement of the capping device.

The wedge 87 is carried on one end of a bell `crank lever 89 pivotallymounted at 90 on the support 25. A coil spring 91 tends to return thisAbell crank levertol the' position indicated inFig. v5.- An arm-92 ofthe bell crank lever 89 projects into the path of the bottles beingpushed from the stirrups 17 onto the support 25. Each time `a bottlemoves along the finger 26 it engages the arm 92 and rocks the bellcranklever 89 so as to remove thewedge 87 from between the jaw members76. Itis apparent, therefore, that each time a bottle is delivered ontothe support 25 the clutch 52 is tripped. Should nofbottle be deliveredfrom a stirrup 17, the clutchis noty tripped and the jaw members 76remainseparated. The "rod` 57 accordingly moves downwardly relative tothe member 53 without pulling` the capping device downwardly with it.

The operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: Bottles are fedalong the conveyor 20 and are deflected by the deflecting guide 21 andthe star wheel 22 onto the stirrups 17 of the lling machine. vThebottles are then lled from the filling heads 10; and when each stirrupcomes around to a position adjacent the support 25, the bottle is readyto be discharged from the filling machine. Such discharge takes placebecause of the engagement of the nger 26 with the bottles so as to crowdthe samebetween the ringer 26 and the following arm of the yoke 24 onthe stirrup 17. `This forces -the bottle against the arm 92 and tripsthe clutch 52 just as the bottle is being pushed beneath the cappingdevice. Capping accordingly takes place immediately at the point ofdischarge rfrom the filling machine onto the stationary support 25. Theclutch having been tripped, the capping device is carried downwardly bythe rod 57 so as to place a cap on the top of the bottle. l

If the next stirrup 17 is empty, the wedge 87 is permitted to return andremain in position between theiaw members 76, and the capping device isaccordingly not actuated until another bottle is forced on a'stirruponto the support 25.

, The pushing of this succeeding bottle onto the support pushes thepreceding bottle out from the capping device. Guides 94 are provided forguiding the capped bottles back onto the conn veyor 20.

bring about actuation of the capping device when a bottle is deliveredbeneath the capping device.

A further advantage of my invention resides in `the arrangement forcapping a bottle immediately upon its delivery from a lling machine ontoa support beneath the capping device. It will furthermore be understoodthat there is additional advantage in the provision of the automaticcontrol for the actuation of the capping device in such an arrangementsince a bottle is delivered o nto the support and immediately capped,and

. the capping mechanism does not again descend until the capped bottlehas been pushed out from beneath the capping device by the delivery ofthe next succeeding bottle from the lling machine.

Certain advantages arising as a consequence of the improvements I haveprovided in a capping device by my invention are not'restricted to thecombination of the capping device in the manner illustrated in thedrawings with a lling'machine, nor infact with any particular apparatus.`It is j to be understood, therefore, that from certain aspects, myinvention is broadly applicable to cap- -the like, as used throughoutthe specification and vclaims are used generically asterms of definitionf positionbeneath said device while a container ping devices, whetherconstructedas separate units, or whether used in any of a variety ofcombinations. l

The terms cap and capping mechanism and cic form ofbottlecappingmechanism andpne 'particular arrangement of bottle' filling machine andbottle capping mechanism, it will be Aunderstood that the invention isnot restricted to the particular construction and arrangement shown,

but may be variously modiiied within the contemplation of the inventionand under the scope of the following claims.

`I claim:

1. In a closure applying machine, a capping device, positive means formoving a container to operative position beneath the capping device,actuating means for the capping device, and means controlled by movementof a container toward operative position for rendering said actuatingmeans operative, said controlled means being engaged by a container onlyduring movement of a container toward operative position but disengagedfrom such container at operative position. e

2. In a closure applying machine, a closure applying device, means formoving a container to operative position beneath the closure applying idevice, actuating means for lowering said closure applying device toapply a closure to a container, and control means engaged by a containerin moving toward operative position for rendering said actuating meansoperative, said control means being disengaged from a container whichhas reached operative position.

3. In a closure applying machine, a closure 11'5 applying device, meansfor moving a container to operative position beneath the closureapplying device and permitting a dwell of such` container in operativeposition, actuating means for the closure applying device, and meanscontrolled A by movement Aof a container toward operative position forrendering said actuating means operative, said controlled means beingengaged by a container only during movement of a container towardoperative position but disengaged from such container at operativeposition.

4. In a container closing machine, a device for fixing a closure to acontainer to seal the same, means for moving a container towardoperative is in such operative position, actuating means for saiddevice, and a trip for timing the sealing operation of said device, saidtrip being controlled by engagement therewith by a container movingtoward operative position and being disengaged from the container whenthe same reaches operative position.

5. In combination, a container filling machine, a closure applyingdevice, means for transferring the sued containers in succession fromthe filling machine to operative position beneath the closure applyingdevice and permitting each container to dwell in operative position forthehinterval between the discharge of successive containers from thelling machine, actuating means for said closure applying device, and atrip engageable by a container moving towardoperative position forrendering said actuating means operative, said trip being disengagedfrom a container` which is in operative position.

7. combination, a container filling machine =of the rotary type having a:rotatable carrier and guides thereon yfor :the containers, a ysupportfor receiving a container from the filling machine, a .guide fordeiiecting filled containers in succession from the :carrier of thefilling machine onto .said support, a Vclosure Iapplying device`arranged to close a container lsuppor-tedon said support, means foractuating said closure applying -device, and a trip engaged by acontainer -while be- -ing -deected from said carrier for timing theactuation of said closure applying device.

:JOHN J. GAYNOR.

DISCLAIMER 1,928,450.4- J0hn J. Gaynor, Delphi, Ind. CONTAINER OAPPINGMACHINE. Patent dated September 26, 1933. Disclaimer filed April 29,1936, by the assignee, Home Manufacturing Company and Mrs. John J.Gaynor, owner of residual interest. Hereby enter this disclaimer toclaims 1 and 3 of the said Letters Patent.

[Oficial Gazette May 19, 1936.]

